Tampa Bay (7-14-8) at Ottawa (10-12-5), 7:00 p.m. EST
OTTAWA (Ticker) -- After having their organization publicly
insulted recently by fired coach Barry Melrose, the Tampa Bay
Lightning have the chance to earn their first winning streak
under interim leader Rick Tocchet.
Tocchet and the Lightning seek their second straight victory
following a nine-game losing skid when they visit the Ottawa
Senators on Saturday.
Tampa Bay's Mark Recchi had an assist in the team's 3-1 win over
the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, moving him into a tie with
Jari Kurri for third place on the NHL career points list among
right wings, trailing Gordie Howe and Jaromir Jagr.
The 40-year-old Recchi is two points away from reaching 1,400
for his career.
Tampa Bay is 2-7-4 since Tocchet took over for Melrose, who
ripped his former team earlier this week during an interview on
a Toronto sports radio station.
Melrose was dismissed on November 14 after the Lightning started
5-7-4. Tocchet inherited a team that has scored only 68 goal,
second-worst in the NHL. The only team that has netted fewer
goals is Ottawa, which has posted 64.
The Lightning have been sparked by Martin St. Louis, who has a
six-game point streak. During that span, he has collected five
goals and three assists.
The Senators have dropped three in a row, including a 5-1 loss
to the Washington Capitals on Friday.